2003 VTS oil leaking..

1. Rusty789 Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Tadley Posts: 263 Vauxhall VX220, Saxo VTS

   #1 5th February 2012, 04:16

   I've had my VTS for less than a week, it was full on oil when I got it on both be dipstick and the little display that comes up on the dash, slowly I've been noticing it drop, it had three squares (on the dash display) left by midweek then tonight I noticed it had only one! So I've topped it up again.
   
   Firstly am I right in thinking that is roughly a litres worth of oil that's dossappeared?
   
   Next where should I begin my search for this soon to be annoying oil leak at this rate! Where are most common oil leaks etc.
   
   I'm not a complete noob so the Saxo/106, but this is my first 16v one..
2. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

   #2 5th February 2012, 09:38

   Most common oil leak for TU lumps is from the head gasket just above the alternator. It starts off pretty minor, but it'll start leaving patches of oil under the car eventually.
   
   Could also be leaking from the cam ladders/ covers as well, I guess.
3. NismoSteve Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2011 Thorne+Grimsby Posts: 717 S2GTi / Megane cc

   #3 5th February 2012, 10:10

   If it were leaking that much you you see oil drips under the car, and if it was the cam covers / ladders you would spot that easy and smell the burning oil as it drips on the hot exhaust.
   Does it smoke much?
   Mine uses a lot of oil, which is probably valve stem seals and rings worn plus I have the obligatory oil leaks as mentioned above.
4. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #4 5th February 2012, 10:21

   From the description it does sound like it's using oil faster than it should.
   
   Is it pummeling blue/black smoke out of the exhaust?
   
   If it's not dripping then my guess would be valve stem seals or worn piston rings.
5. Manu Saxperience Addict Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 11714 A6 Le Mans tuned/A3 TFSI tuned

   #5 5th February 2012, 10:27

   Tip of the day: leave a newspaper under the car over night (with a couple of stones so it doesn't get blown away), you'll find out exactly where it drips, if it drips.
6. Rusty789 Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Tadley Posts: 263 Vauxhall VX220, Saxo VTS

   #6 5th February 2012, 11:02

   No smoke, and isn't smelling at all, there's a little bit around the cam covers, but again not really enough to explain the amount it's been using.. When you say ladders what part/area do you mean?
   
   When the weathers cleared up a little I'll get the other car out the garage and put the saxo in over night to see if it's dripping anywhere..
7. user_10418 Saxperience Addict Joined: Jun 2006 Wirral Posts: 13584 Wickerd red VTS MK2, Two tone VTS MK2,vvc Metro..

   #7 6th February 2012, 02:41

   Normaly they leak on the rocker covers......
8. Rusty789 Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Tadley Posts: 263 Vauxhall VX220, Saxo VTS

   #8 6th February 2012, 09:10

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by saxokid100 Normaly they leak on the rocker covers......

   Surely approx 1L worth of oil in 500/600 miles is a substantial amount to loose from a leak around the rocker covers without noticing it?
   
   Any way I've cleaned the engine bay now, so hopefully it will be fairly obivous where its leaking from..
9. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #9 6th February 2012, 12:08

   It does sound like a lot of oil useage mate,as an idea mine usually needs topping up every 1100 miles.The other places to check for a leak would be the oil filter, also the sump where it joins the block.